Athlete’s foot threatened Giant’s life

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004 | 9:47 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

In a sport where players can be knocked out for the season with knee, neck, back and head injuries, Shaun O'Hara almost had his ended by a seemingly benign combination of athlete's foot and a calf bruise.

The mixture, however, developed into a potentially fatal staphylococcus infection, and it had the New York Giants starting center hospitalized for five nights.

Released on Tuesday afternoon, O'Hara still had an intravenous tube in his right arm on Wednesday as he discussed the illness that caused him to watch Sunday's win against Minnesota from a hospital bed.

"Luckily we caught it fast enough that it didn't get into the blood stream and attack the rest of my body," O'Hara said.

O'Hara said the infection took him by surprise. He started against Detroit on Oct. 24 and he was preparing for last weekend's game in Minnesota when his left leg developed what looked like a spider bite about 5 inches above his ankle. He developed a fever and significant swelling last Thursday morning before practice. He was rushed to a hospital in New York City.

"I'm a little naive. I didn't realize what was going on until I got the hospital and the doctors told me," O'Hara said.

O'Hara, who is still 5 pounds under his playing weight, did not practice on Wednesday. It is uncertain whether he will be able to play here on Sunday against Chicago.

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